FATHER KNOWS BEST

Father Knows Best is an American Radio Comedy series which portrayed middle class family life in the Midwest. It was created by writer Ed James in the 1940s.

The series began August 25, 1949, on NBC Radio. Set in the Midwest, it starred Robert Young as the General Insurance agent Jim Anderson. His wife Margaret was first portrayed by June Whitley and later by Jean Vander Pyl. The Anderson children were Betty (Rhoda Williams), Bud (Ted Donaldson), and Kathy (Norma Jean Nillson). Others in the cast were Eleanor Audley, Herb Vigran and Sam Edwards. Sponsored through most of its run by General Foods, the series was heard Thursday evenings on NBC until March 25, 1954.

On the radio program, the character of Jim differs from the later television character. The radio Jim is far more sarcastic and shows he really "rules" over his family. Jim also calls his children names, something common on radio but lost in the TV series. For example, Jim says, "What a bunch of stupid children I have." Margaret is portrayed as a paragon of solid reason and patience, unless the plot calls for her to act a bit off. For example, in a Halloween episode, Margaret cannot understand how the table floats in the air, but that is a rare exception.

Betty, on radio, is portrayed as a status seeking, boy-crazy teenage girl. To her, every little thing is "the worst thing that could ever happen." Bud, on radio, is portrayed as an "all-American" boy who always seems to need "just a bit more" money, though he gets $1.25 per week in allowance. The actor had an affected "r" (similar to Elmer Fudd, but not quite as pronounced). Bud is in charge of always having to answer the front door, which he hates. He is also shown as a somewhat dim boy who takes everything literally; for example, Jim might say "Go jump in the lake," to which Bud would reply "Okay, Dad; which lake should I go jump into?" On radio Kathy often is portrayed as a source of irritation. She whines, cries and complains about her status in the family as overlooked. She often is the source of money to her brother and sister, although she is in hock several years on her own.

EPISODES LIST

Father Knows Best 48-12-20 Audition Show Father Knows Best 50-01-12 (021) Elusive Card Game Father Knows Best 50-05-04 (037) An Uncontrolled Dog Father Knows Best 50-05-11 (038) The Golf Challenge Father Knows Best 50-05-18 (039) Betty's Screen Test Father Knows Best 50-05-25 (040) Superstitious Folk Father Knows Best 50-06-08 (041) Time for a New Car Father Knows Best 50-06-15 (042) Father's Day Trip Father Knows Best 50-06-22 (043) A New Housekeeper Father Knows Best 50-06-29 (044) New Arrangements Father Knows Best 50-07-06 (045) Vacation Arrives Father Knows Best 50-09-07 (046) An Efficient House Father Knows Best 50-09-14 (047) Family Car Stolen Father Knows Best 50-09-21 (048) Who Has the Time Father Knows Best 50-09-28 (049) The New Girlfriend Father Knows Best 50-10-05 (050) Family Spending Father Knows Best 50-10-12 (051) The Skunk Must Go Father Knows Best 50-10-26 (053) A Spooky Cemetery Father Knows Best 50-11-02 (054) Too Many Problems Father Knows Best 50-11-09 (055) The Bad Bar-Be-Cue Father Knows Best 50-11-16 (056) Enterprising Kids Father Knows Best 50-11-23 (057) Happy Thanksgiving Father Knows Best 50-12-07 (059) A French Teacher Father Knows Best 50-12-14 (060) Father Becomes Ill Father Knows Best 50-12-21 (061) Christmas Program Father Knows Best 50-12-28 (062) Party Preparations Father Knows Best 51-01-04 (063) Taking on City Hall Father Knows Best 51-01-11 (064) Missing Furniture Father Knows Best 51-01-18 (065) Redecoration Woes Father Knows Best 51-01-25 (066) Sound Matchmaking Father Knows Best 51-02-01 (067) Jim Inherits a Ranch in Arizona Father Knows Best 51-02-08 (068) What Was His Name Father Knows Best 51-02-15 (069) Orchid for a Lady Father Knows Best 51-02-22 (070) Always Tell Truth Father Knows Best 51-03-01 (071) Rehearsing a Play Father Knows Best 51-03-08 (072) Painting The Living Room Father Knows Best 51-03-15 (073) Tax Interruptions Father Knows Best 51-03-22 (074) Helping out the Boss Father Knows Best 51-03-29 (075) Both Bosses Visit Father Knows Best 51-04-05 (076) It Pays to Borrow Father Knows Best 51-04-12 (077) Carrot Costume Party Father Knows Best 51-04-19 (078) Anniversary Secret Father Knows Best 51-04-26 (079) Aunt Martha Visits Father Knows Best 51-05-03 (080) A Missing Salesman Father Knows Best 51-05-10 (081) Junk Around the House Father Knows Best 51-05-17 (082) Locked out of the House Father Knows Best 51-05-24 (083) Anniversary Event Father Knows Best 51-05-31 (084) Going to New York Father Knows Best 51-06-14 (085) Father's Day Picnic Father Knows Best 51-06-21 (086) Mother Drives a Car Father Knows Best 51-06-28 (087) Wedding Preparation Father Knows Best 51-07-05 (088) Meaning of Freedoms Father Knows Best 51-09-20 (089) A Diet Discussion Father Knows Best 51-11-01 (095) The Tie Father Knows Best 52-04-17 (119) New Washing Machine Father Knows Best 52-05-15 (123) Self Reliance Father Knows Best 52-07-03 (130) Vacation Arrives Father Knows Best 52-08-25 Father Knows Best 52-09-11 (132) Watching the Dog Father Knows Best 52-09-18 (133) Weekend Activity Father Knows Best 52-09-25 (134) Should Women Work Father Knows Best 52-10-09 (135) Betty and Crooner Father Knows Best 52-10-16 (136) Bud Quits School Father Knows Best 52-10-30 (138) Carnival in Town Father Knows Best 52-11-06 (139) Selling the House Father Knows Best 52-11-13 (140) The Missing Pipes Father Knows Best 52-11-20 (141) The Phantom Prowler Father Knows Best 52-12-11 (144) A Worried Waitress Father Knows Best 52-12-18 (145) The Kids Revolt Father Knows Best 52-12-25 (146) Shared Christmas Gifts Father Knows Best 53-01-01 (147) Southern Manners Father Knows Best 53-01-08 (148) Second Family Car Father Knows Best 53-01-15 (149) The Boy Next Door Father Knows Best 53-01-29 (151) Bud Dislikes Girls Father Knows Best 53-02-05 (152) Aunt Thelma Visits Father Knows Best 53-02-12 (153) Babysitting Miseries Father Knows Best 53-02-19 (154) Modernizing the Home Father Knows Best 53-02-26 (155) Banged up Fender Father Knows Best 53-03-05 (156) Overdue Vacation Father Knows Best 53-03-12 (157) To Build a Brick Wall Father Knows Best 53-03-19 (158) The Missing Wedding Ring Father Knows Best 53-03-26 (159) Uninsured Robin Father Knows Best 53-04-02 (160) Bud's Panama Cat Business Venture Father Knows Best 53-04-09 (161) How to Face Problems Father Knows Best 53-04-16 (162) Family Getaway to Beaver Falls Father Knows Best 53-04-23 (163) Old Father Time Father Knows Best 53-04-30 (164) Springtime Woes Father Knows Best 53-05-07 (165) The Good Old Days Father Knows Best 53-05-14 (166) Sophisticated Bud Father Knows Best 53-05-21 (167) Paper Drive Management Father Knows Best 53-09-10 (168) Remembering Names Father Knows Best 53-09-17 (169) Big Inheritance Father Knows Best 53-09-24 (170) Mind Your Manners Father Knows Best 53-10-01 (171) A Date Mix-Up with Leonard and Ralph and Betty Father Knows Best 53-10-08 (172) The Value of Money Father Knows Best 53-10-15 (173) The Life of the Party Father Knows Best 53-10-22 (174) Too Many Peanuts Father Knows Best 53-10-29 (175) Halloween Blues Father Knows Best 53-11-05 (176) Moving to Chicago Father Knows Best 53-11-12 (177) Betty's Engagement Father Knows Best 53-11-19 (178) Missing Uncle Father Knows Best 53-11-26 (179) Thanksgiving Father Knows Best 53-12-03 (180) Too Many Rabbits Father Knows Best 53-12-24 (183) Christmas Program Father Knows Best 53-12-31 (184) New Year's Sitter Father Knows Best 54-01-07 (185) Taking Pictures Father Knows Best 54-01-14 (186) An Unusual Bet Father Knows Best 54-01-21 (187) The Mink Coat Woes Father Knows Best 54-01-28 (188) Trash Can Lids Father Knows Best 54-02-04 (189) The Telephone Mix-Up Father Knows Best 54-02-18 (191) Betty's Freedom Father Knows Best 54-02-25 (192) Check Writing Father Knows Best 54-03-04 (193) Spring Cleaning Father Knows Best 54-03-11 (194) False Elopement Father Knows Best 54-03-18 (195) Income Tax Mix-Up Father Knows Best 54-03-25 (196) Rainy Day Activity